File-box



H. C. FOSBERG.

FILE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IULY l5,1918.

Patented May 11, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

. I awuvzwlioz flnfy (I 1 5856;

H. C. FOSBERG.

FILE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15,1918.

1,340,034, Patented May 11, 1920.

GL0 4 SHEETSSHEET 2- van/14704.

H. C. FOSBERG.

FILE BOX.

KPPLICATHJN mm JULY 15.1913.

Patented May 11, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- H. C. FOSBERG.

FILE BOX.

APPLICAHGN FILED JULY 15,1913.

Patented May 11, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- o M W gluon Hi0; Henry RS6 7:9,

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f z k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. FOSBEBG, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ART METAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., 015' JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FILE-BOX.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. Fosnnno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in File-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a file box, and the object of the invention is to provide for maintaining the box closed throughout all of its sides and also to provide for the convenient opening of the box and convenient access to the contents thereof. In carrying out my invention I employ upper and lower box sections or members telescopically assembled and mounted so that the upper box section or member may be pushed downwardly upon the lower member so as to reduce the depth of the box and thereby give convenient access to the interior thereof. Provision is made for supporting the upper box section or member in its upper position, and the supporting means is conveniently accessible and readily manipulated to permit of the lowering of the upper box section.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the appended claims, it will of course be understood that changes in. the form, proportion, size and minor details may be made, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file box embodying the features of the present invention and in closed condition.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the box open for convenient access to the interior thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 2, the follower mechanism being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 6- 6 of Fig. 5. A

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating one of the spring-actuated supports for holding the upper section of the box in its elevated position.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an underneath plan view showing the latch for holding one of the lid sections in its closed position.

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken through the latch of Fig. 9 together with .1 portion of the end of the box.

The box of the present invention includes telescopic upper and lower sections 1 and 2, respectively, each section being formed of sheet metal of suitable weight and dimensions. Each section is preferably rectangular in configuration, and the lower section has four sides and a bottom. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the bottom 3 of the lower section is disposed a suitable distance above the bottom edges of the sides of the section, and is provided with a depending peripheral flange 4 lying snugly against and suitably secured to the inner sides of the section 2, with its lower edge resting upon an inturned horizontal flange 5 on the bottom edge of the lower section 2. Throughout the longitudinal middle of the bottom 3 there is a rectangular depression or channel 6 for a purpose as will be hereinafter described. The upper edge of the box section 2 is provided with an external inverted and substantially U-shaped peripheral flange 7.

The upper box section 1 is slightly larger than the lower section so as to embrace said section with a telescopic fit. The bottom of the upper section is open so as to receive the lower section therethrough, and the lower marginal edge of the upper section is provided with an internal substantially U- shaped flange or rib 8, which interfits with the top flange 7 of the lower section so as to limit the upward movement of the upper section and prevent separation of said sections.

For the purpose of supporting the top section in an elevated position, there is provided at opposite sides of the lower section suitable supports, one of which has been shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. This support is in the form of a spring metal plate having a shank 9 riveted, spot-welded or otherwise secured to the in ner side of the lower section 2, and an upper spring arm portion 10 normally disposed at an angle to the shank, and provided at its top with a substantially horizontal inturncd flange ll ionstituting a shoulder or abutment on Willi]! the lower edge of the top box section 1 rests, as fully shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The side of the lower box section is cutaway or pro vided with an opening 12 lo ac onunodate the spring arm portion 10 which normally extends outnmrdly through said openin and is held in such position by a suitab e bolt 131nouuted in a housing 14 secured to the inner side of the lower box section. One end of this bolt is designed to engage the inner edge of the adjacent longitudinal flange 15 on the spring arm 10, there being two such flanges 15. as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawin The other end of the bolt is provided with a suitable handle 16 for manipulating said bolt. A stop 17 is provided for engagement by the handle end oi the bolt to limit the rearnuird movement of the bolt and prevent displacement thereof from the casing 1-4. To lower the upper section upon the lower section, each bolt 13 is withdrawn, and the spring arms 10 are pushed inwardly through the openings 12 until the shoulders 11 clear the bottom edge of the top section 1, which may then be lowered to the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. VVhen the top box section 1 is again elevated, its lower flange 8 wipes over the spring arms 10 and forces them inwardly until the flanges 7 clear the tops of the spring arms, whereupon the latter snap out and bring their supporting shoulders 11 beneath and in ontact with the lower edge of the box section '1, whereby said upper box section will be held in its elevated position with the flanges 7 and 8 of the two box sections inter-engaged. To prevent accidental inward displacement'of the spring arms 10 and aconsequent dropping of the top section 1, the two bolts 13are pushed inwardlyacross the respective flanges 15, whereby the spring arms will be maintained in their outward positions against accidental displacement.

The top section 1 1s provided with a lid divided centrally and longitudinally into two'lid membersIS and 19, which are hinged at their outer longitudinal edges as at 20 and 21to the'corrcsponding top edges of the upper section 1. Across each end of'the upper box section, on the inner side and adjacent the top thereof is a substantially horizontalflange 22constitutin a support for the ends of the hinged 11d members 18 and19'.

One of thelid members, as for instance the one designated 18, is provided with a spring bolt'or' latch 23', best shown in" Figs. 6, 9 and 10 of the drawings. This latch is provided upon the underside of the-lid section '18 adjacent one corner thereof and the l'ree end of the latch is designed to underlie the flange 22 and thereby hold the lid section closed. A suitable handle 24 depends from the latch or bolt 23 for convenience in withdrawing the latter against the tension oi the spring 25. The longitudinal l'rce edge oi the lid member 18 is provided with a depressed substantially U-shapcd bead 26 which is open at its top for the reroption ol the beaded edge .37 of the other lid member l9, which member l9 is pro vided with a key-lock 28, the bolt 29 of which is adapted to underlie the beaded edge 26 ol the lid member 18 so as to lock the lid members against unauthorized opening. A suitable knob or handle 30 is ,ow-uidfvl upon the lid meml'ier 19 to farililale the opening thereof after the lock lnn: been unloelc-d. The lid member 13 can of lnlll'se be opened by witlnlrmving Ilw la. b if?) from its engagement with the iil i gm 2:2. \l'ln-n time. released, the two lid w g mqer against the exl-gziug' oz ill! upright sides of the box settion as iznlicaled in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. When the lid members have been thus opened, the upper box section 1 may then be telescoped upon the lower section into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, thereby giving convenient access to the interior of the bottom section.

For convenience in raising and lowering the upper box section or member 1, the latter is provided with suitable handles 26, preferably in the lorin of loops and arranged adjacent the spring dogs or latches i y inserting th thumbs downwardly through the looped handles 26, the fingers of the hands will be in position for convenient access to the spring dogs or latches 10 which may be readily forced inwardly until clear of the bottom edges of the upper box section and. then the latter may be lowered to the position shown in Figs: 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The purpose of the longitudinald'ep-res sion 6 in the bottom of the lower b'ox memher is to form a guidewa y fora'pair of followers 27*, which followers may be of any desired construction and mounting arnd capable of movement toward and away from one another so as to clamp'pa rs snugly therebetween when the lid morn ers are closed. However, it will of course'be understood that followers are not essential to the present invention and may'be dispensed with if desired. The longitudinal depression 6 is provided only when the followers are desired.

I claim:

1. A file box comprising upperandlwer sections telescopicallyassembled, and a follower mounted in the lower box section.

fill

2. A file box comprising upper and lower sections telescopically assembled, and a follower mounted in the lower box section, said follower extending above the top of the lower box section and terminating short of the top of the upper box section in the elevated position of said top box section.

3. A file box comprising upper and lower sections telescopically assembled, and a pair of followers mounted in the lower box section and movable toward and away from one another.

4. A file box comprising upper and lower sections telescopically assembled, and a follower mounted in the lower box section, said follower including a plate member mounted to tilt vertically.

5. A file box comprising upper and lower sections telescopically assembled, and a follower mounted in the lower box section, said follower including a plate member mounted to tilt vertically on an axis extending transversely of the box.

6. ii file box comprising upper and lower sections telescopically assembled, and a follower mounted in the lower box section, said follower including a plate member mounted to tilt vertically and extending through the open top of the lower box section and into the upper box section.

7. i file box comprising upper and lower box sections telescopically assembled, and displaceable means for supporting the upper box section in its elevated position, said upper box section being provided with handles disposed adjacent the displaceable sup porting means and in position to give the hand of the operator access to the handle and the displaceable supporting means at one and the same time.

8. A file box comprising upper and lower telescopically assembled box sections, opposite sides of the lower section having openings therein a spring latch for each opening, each latch having a shank secured to the lower box section and a spring arm disposed to engage and support the upper box section, said spring arm capable of being displaced inwardly through the opening in the lower box section and out of engagement with the upper box section to permit the lowering of the latter and dis laceable means on the interior of the box or maintaining the spring latch in position to support the upper box section.

9. A file box comprising upper and lower telescopically assembled box sections, the upper box section being provided with a displaceable lid, said lid being divided in parts and each part hinged to the upper box section and capable of being folded over against the exterior of the box.

10. A file box comprising upper and lower telescopically assembled box sections the upper box section being provided with a displaceable lid, said lid being divided in parts and each part hinged to the upper box section and capable of being folded over against the exterior of the box, means on the under side of one of the lid parts to lock the same in closed position, and the other lid part being provided with a key lock for locking engagement with the first mentioned lid part.

HENRY C. FOSBERG. 

